The American Spectator

p> OUR AMBASSADOR br> Re: R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.’s Jeane Kirkpatrick, RIP : /p> p>I wasn’t gonna tell anybody, and up until now, I haven’t, but here goes. It’s your fault Tyrrell. When I heard Jeane Kirkpatrick had passed, the tears just welled up from all the memories of the '80s with President Reagan, Margaret Thatcher, the Pope, et al. She was a giant among giants. We’ll never see another like her. And, that was that. But, you, Tyrrell, had to go and remind me of her previous life, before her conversion. So the tears, all happy ones, came back, manifested in a full-fledged bawl until I got it all out. Why? I don’t know all the reasons, but she deserved such and more emotional recognition for a courageous life well lived, and I’m a passionate guy. I hope you’re happy Tyrrell, putting me through that. I know I am. Thank you! br> — Mike Showalter br> Austin, Texas /p>

While obviously wishing to offer condolences to Ambassador Kirkpatrick’s family, and to Bob Tyrrell on the loss of a colleague who was clearly also a friend, no analysis of her career would be complete without mention of an incident of profound importance in my country’s history which does not portray her in the best of lights.

When the Argentine junta invaded the Falkland Islands in 1982, Ambassador Kirkpatrick gave their actions her unequivocal support — indeed, going so far as to attend a dinner at the Argentine embassy in Washington as guest of honor on the day the invasion started.

Obviously the Argentines placed her colleagues and herself in a difficult position — the USA had mutual defense obligations to both parties to that conflict. However they had invaded British sovereign territory and subjugated those loyal to the Crown against their will; an act of fascistic aggression one might expect from a regime that threw its opponents out of aircraft.

For all her obvious love of liberty it is not too soon after her passing for her actions in 1982 to be weighed in the historical balance.